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M. M. ADAMI@ Doom OPENING MECH'ANISM FiledJunC-B 2. 1917 5 Shee'ks-Shee 2 May 1, -1 923,

DOORA OPENING MECHANISM Filed'JunG 2. 1917 Patented May 1, 1923.

UNITED STAT S it it lill' DOOR-OPENENG IVIEG-ltANlSIi/t.

Application iiled .Tune 2, 1917. Serial No. lVG.

T o @ZZ toll/0m t may concern.

Be it known that I, Hanni* A. Aparte, a citizen ot the United States, residinitin the city ot Danville, county of' Vermilion, and State ot illinois, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements; in Door-Opening); Mechanism, oi which the following is a speoilieation.

M7 invention reiters to slidingl doors and particularly to hinged, folding doors and has special reference to a novel means ior opening;v and closing such doors.

Foldingdoors are coming' more generally into use than heretofore, they being preferred for use in dividingl a large, spacious room into several small rooms. Also, they are adaptable to garage, stable, warehouse and similar uses.

Since the advent of automobiles various and sundry means have been devised :tor providing closures Jfor garages. ilVherc there is space to permit garages have been built having sufficient room in which to accommodate swinging or sliding` doors but where there is not sufficient space to permit ot the installation oi swinging or sliding doors other closure means have been devised. These means comprise generally two or more doors oiE comparatively narrow width hinged together to form. what is known as folding,r or accordion doors and which told back azfzjainst the side of the building` to which they may be attached. To carry the doors across the door opening these have been provided with hangers which run in or on snitable track secured to the upper portion ot the doorway. There there is a single doorway that is one wide enough only for a single vehicle a folding door comprising' only two sect-ions may be used. On the other hand when it is desired to close a large opening; sets of doors may be used each set oi' doors fastened to the sides oit the doorway and provided with proper track hanger equipment. VDoors of' this character sometimes are very heavy and it diiiicnlt .to more them into opened or closed position. For thermore. it is desirable to adapt means to the doors so that they may be opened or closed from la distance. vIt is also desirable to provide means to lock the doors when closed and have such lockingr means operable by the openin and closing; mechanism.

The devices whit;V have been employedftor opening` and closing;- doors oi' the character contemplated by my invention have not been positive in their action. The lochino; means have not been ol such a nature as to positively loclf the doors when in closed position, and 'means have not been provided to fully move the doors into closed position, thus making' a tiojht fitting doorway.

-To overcome these andthe other obiections l have deviF-sed a door openingn mechamsm. one object of' which Ais to provide noans ior opening and closing7 ibldingidoors by mechanical means.

another object is to provide means whorebv the door may be. locified and Unlocked bv the operatingi` mechanism. flinother obiect is to provide means in the operation; train which will positively prevent damage to The power moment or to the doors iii the doors shoiihl over be stopped bv some ob- :fstarle during;y the opening` or elo/sinov movement. Y (Y stiii toi-ther object is to provide means in connection with the opening; and closing` mechanism to pos""iveilv inox the doors into tightly closed position. fi. still :further object is to provide means whereby lthe doors ina'v be `gently broiiojht to a Ytrillv closed or iiiilllv open .l position without any shock, or

strooiion or 7ihenewr te primo mover hecomes ineiiiectivo to complete such movement,

rihese and other objects will be apparent to those 1 'lied in the art trom a study or the dra wi nrs whereine- Figi'. i is an elevaron oi5 the oppor pora tion ot halt a doorway showion` the preierred Yform oi rv mecianism. y litio is a similar view showing the other half ot the upper portion of the doorway. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with the motor removed.

Fig. f1 is an enlarged view of the mechanism which operates the locking bar.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the clutch mechanism at the power end of the shaft and the closing device, the doorway being shown in section.

Fig. 8 is an elevation showing more in detail the yielding connection between the shaft and the doors.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view on line 9 9 of Fig. S.

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the position oit the several elements when the doors are in partially opened position.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the yielding means when in the position of Fig, 10, and

F ig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of the preferred form of wiring connections with the motor.

Fig. 13 isa diagrammatic representation ol a means Ator preventing the circuit coils E and F from being closed at the same time.

ln the drawings 10 indicates the upper portion of a double doorway having the usual side members 11 and 12. Hinged to the side post 11 are doors 13 and 14. the doors being hinged together on the rear side ot the joint 15. In similar manner doors 16 and 17 are joined topost 12 at the doorway` these also being hinged together at the joint 15. Extending along the upper portion of the doorway are track members 18 and 19 which may be set at an angle to the doorway as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The reason the track members 18 and 19 are set preferably at an angle is to permit the closing ot the doors against the side or en d wall of the building, the controlling feature beivm` the positioning of the outer end ot the track with respect to the doorway 10. If it is desired to told the doors back against the wall flush with the doorway, then the outer ond ot the pieces of track would be positioned nearer the doorway than indicated in Figs. 3 and 7.

Extending along the doorway 10 carried in suitable bearings 24 is a shaft 25 having at one end a bevel 26 and the other end provided with a clutch 27 carrying at its outer end bevel 28 which meshes with a large bevel 29 mounted onV a vertical shaft 30. ln like manner a similar bevel 26 meshes with the bevel 31 mounted on a vertical shaft 32. Shafts 30 and cooperate with' pivots in check members d8 and El which are pi ably similar to swinging door cheeks which checks are fastened to the pivots and are adapted to turn with the shafts 30 and 32.

The check members 233 and 34 are of the plunger type which Vis commonly used in double acting swinging doors, the purpose. being to alord a shockabsorbing means so that when power is applied to open the doors, the doors may be opened slowly, also brought into open position without shock. The check members ll and 3.41 are provided with curved recesses which may be on the under side ot the cheeks or extending laterally thereof. ln the present instance the cheeks are provided with laterally extending sectors 35 having curved recesses 36 therein. Pivoted to doors 1? and 17 by suitable, pivots 37 are bell cranks 3S and 39. one end of each ot' which carries a roller 40. 4l and thc other end is adapted to slide in the recess 36 in the sectors 35. For cooperatingr with the. free ends otthe bell cranks 3S. 255i. l provide plates 42 and 43 having a wall attaching flange portion 42 and 42% and a horizontal portion 12" and 43". ln the portions 42" and 48h there are provided arcuate slots 44. 45. with which the rollers 40. 4l. on bell cranks 36. 39. are adapted to cooperate when the doors are nearing closed position. the }mrpose of these plate 42. 43. being to draw the doors into tightly closed position by cooperation between the bell cranks and the slotted plates of the spring checks l and 534-. While l have shown the plates l2 and l?) as being separate members l mayv Yform them integrally with the check supports as shown in Fig. 8.

For locking the doors when in closed position l provide a pair ot substantiall)v longitudinall'v movable rods 46. 4:7. placed along the doorway Ylll just above the opening therein. These rods are. carried at their outer ends b v brackets 4S and 49. 'lhe rods are also provided with L-shaped hook members 50. 51. mounted to engage projections 52, 52. mounted on doors 14 and 16. tho projections in transverse section being preferably inclined towards the shaft i6. This may be clearlyv seen in Fig. 6. The inner ends ot rods Vi6. 47. are. pivotall)v connected to the lower portion 53 of a pivotalllv actuated meehanism. 'llhe actuating meehanisln comprises lower portion Bil and upper portion 541- e nniected by pivot pin 51' (see Fig. 4.-). Lips 54" and :'il" act to limit thf` movement o't the parts 53 and For hold ing the lips i-"i" and .71". in contact there are provided rearwandly extendingr bosses al" and 5Fl having a compression spring ST1" inserted therebetween. the operation ol' which will tend to keep the members ."i. and 54v in substantial alignment 'l`he mem ber 54; is provided With an upwardlv extending arm 56 carrying at its end a pin 57 adapted `l'or cooperation with a spiral groove 58 in a collar 59 which is keyed to the shaft 25 as best seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

For operating the shaft 25 I en'iploy an lltl memes electric motor 60 adapted to cooperate with a. worin gear (il mounted on sleeve G2 ott the clutch member 27 (see Fig. 7). Splined on shaft 25 is e sliding coller G3 adopted `for cooperation with the sleeve 62 which collar is actuated by e biliurezited lever 6 pivoted to the doorway l0 at 65 and provided neer its end with o spring' (i6 (see Fig. l) adapted to hold the collar 63 in engagement with the coller G2, bitureeted arms 641Ca cooperatingl with a depression e3 in the collar 63.

The preferred manner of' operating); the doors comprises a reversing motor 60 opm erated by wiring such es that shown dionii-omniatiezillv in Fiffure l2. lllhen the inotor is caused to operate in forward or reverse direction corresponding rotation oli the shaft 25 results which rotates the Vertical shafts 30 and and the coins 6i' een ried at the lower ends thereof. These coms are carried within the checlr nienibers and 341-. and each cem comprises en undercut or slotted portion 67u ond truly eircular surface or face 67d shown in Figures 9 and 10. The checks 33 sind 3411 as shown comprise U shaped straps horizontally disposed 'with legs ot unequal length, These straps 68 are `mounted on the ends ot the shafts 3() und 3Q with the shorter lens ruliiperlnost und the U embracing); the coins G7. The outer ends ot the longer legs ure upturned and guide horizontally reciproceble plungers 69, which plunlfrers are cruised to bear enjeinst the earns 67 by coiled springs 70. For fielding` the heed end ot lthe plungers the straps 68 are provided with opstandingl pins 7l }j):1, .ssin tliroiurh slots G9 in the plungers. The strength ot the spring' 7() is such es to ure-e the plunfrers against 'the cams G7 at all times, `the norinel position of the ports being as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings. Under norn'ial operation ot the doors rotation oit the .inotor rotates the shaft 25 end this in turn rotates the vertical shafts 3() und rot; zing therewith the cams GT. By reason oli the levers 38 pii'oted to one of the doors o'l euch set and hating slidinncooperation with the check members 33 end ll/Tt in the slotted portion 36 thereof. the oppurstus will ii'nnct'ionv to swing` the ehecl-rs end with the coins 67 the letter are rotated through connection with the shntt 2t. The springs 'i'O ere et such strength :is to mein-- tron the plungers 69 against the inner 'tuees 67h et the coins 6T. lVhen the Inotor is caused to inove the doors in either direction7 by reisen ofi ineehanisni in the inotor eiruit the inotor is operated u` sulheient length et tinie to nieve the doors throughout the paths oi" travel of the sinne. Theft is, troni opened to closed position or Vice verse.. lily reason ot" the limit switches the motor .is stojiiiped when. the floors lieve reached ends ot their paths or when the motor hes revolred a `iinei'leterinined nuniber ot' tunes. .lillhenever en obstruction is encountered by the doors in opening or closing; full swinginzr oli' the cheeks 33 und Sltis im pefled. tloinell.inn' hais to give. ln the 'types o'lfA devices new on the market that which rgives is neneralljri the inotor which burns out. .ll'n .my invention that which ,gives is the spring "lll in the cheers 33 :1nd 34. .lly reason ol" the positive connection between the cams Gi' end the inotor 6()5 rotation ot 'the coins is continued as lone` as the motor operates which :is until it reaches the predeterinined number ot revolutions wher .pon it is .stopped bj.' 'the liuiit switch. ln View ot the 'huit that the checks l and ill-. or either ot thein. es Ythe ease ina)1 he. moy no longer swing with the Coin (il by reoson ol un obstacle in the wot' et the door the plunuer is pushed outiwirdly and is held eoeinst the trul,T circuler tace 6T@ of the coni `tor such lengrth ot time es the truliT circuler 'fece 6l in eontect therewith. The coins t'l' revolvinp; at uni'lforin speed will theiie'liore, :is lons doors muy he ob structedr reciproeete the plunojer Y() until the motor is stopi'ied. .lt will he apparent therclore. that by in v invention it 'is possible to provide o motor for continuous op eration in one directier to open the doors und in n reife direetirui to elo. i the seine and which motor may be ce rolled to rerolre o. predeterinined nuniber ot tinies in each directioii and bronU to a stop. 'ily my invention it possible to perinit the olistrur ion ot the doors connected with the niotor :it en); point in the travel 'thereof without in :nojs nianner l1inderino`- the operation ol. the motor or cans-ingr demarre ot env sort to the inotor or to the mechanism coiniectingr it with the doors.

provision o'l se." .tjr stop switches. 'to lie expluined heroineliter.y the motor muy be opped at any time irrespfntire ol" the position. ot the doors. tduppose. lor instaure. the motor `were arranged to run onli7 so long' as to more the doors iironi closed to opened position rice verse end one o'F the doors strike en obstruction. lllhen the ino tor has run n. ifii'meie. lei tinie :is stated. the stop switch nel ted thus stopping; the n'iotor in which condition the coin tl'i would l e ,'iosition opposite to that fil. that ould be tiuued through an nu le .appr i.. ingr L. rlhe door beiiur` in tht` position i. in 'llitn l0, the inner tace GW ol the plunger would be o.; y.inst the trulir eireular liece di ol' the ean ond nothingw would hoppen to the door or to the opt-rotingiv inechenisin es the spring could not act to nieve the plunger. 'The elements beinn in this porition it the door roei 4d so thet the .inner t ee ot the ineinlier 69'] or the ibfilunwe" messes over the end surface 67 C of the cam 67, the spring immediately will act to torce the plunger into the slot 67 which will cause the bracket 68 and the door attached thereto to move into position of rest for the spring, that is7 when the plunger is in full engagement with the arcuate member oit the cam, which action will move the door into fully opened position without the aid oit mechanical or manual means.

It is understood that the doors being in opened position the closing would operate in the reverse manner and if the doors were stopped in closing, the cam would operate as described above in the reverse direction. If it should happen that the motor be operated vith the doors in either fully opened or fully closed position and ii' the limit switches did not operate to stop the motor, then the continued operation would cause the cam 67 to rotate, which rotation would reciprocate the plunger without opening or closing the doors or arising any damage of any nature to any ot the parts.

It is sometimes necessary to provide means for manually opening; or closing doors operated b y mechanical means. In the present instance, I have provided chains or ropes 76 and 77 as seen in Fig. l, the end of 76 being connected to the lower end of arm 64 which operates the slidingY collar 63 in the clutch 27 and the rope 77 beingr connected to the lower portion of the member ot the tripping mechanism. .l it is dcsired to open the doors manually the rope 76 is pulled thereby disengaging the clutch 27 permitting the shaft 25 to be freely revoluble and the rope 77 is operated to actuate the locking mechanism to unlock the door and the door may be opened in the usual manner.

Referring; to Fig'. l2, I shall eripilairl the preferred Ytorni wiring" which is employed. It must be understood that the motor con trol is no part ot my invention as any controlling apparatus iter electric motors which will cause the niotor to run in one direction for a certain length ot time z, nl hc miuiipulated to operate in a reverse dire and be automatically sii'ippeil would bc for operating' the motor used in coun with my door operating' mec1A connections lio the line arc infocacd hi; J\V and B, A. representin;Y the liuc ycoinhngiinf-j the current into the various sir-Inches, clc. and B the return circuit. t T"ci i? nc in:

will cause the motor to open the doors and the other to cause the motor to opcralc in the reverse direction for closingr the doors. 'l`he motor indicated by (l. For energizingr solenoid l? to close the switch l). a contact Si) is employed which adapted l'or making a niomcntary contact only. Comic tod in the circuit which is made when thc contact ci() is closed is ay `limit switch Hl which is idaptcd to he actuated by the door on rcach- 'ng the fully opened position which ciignxgenent will hrcal the circuit through the Kitch i thus cutting ott' the cncrgizing current hrougjh the .solenoid ly` and permitting; the switch l) lo open thus stopping: the motor. To provide a positive means olfv strniping` the i'ipcral'ion oil ihc motor at any time irrespective' o'lV the i'ict'ion oi' lhc doors l prefer to pass the nciijativc lcad from holh :llol-ooids ld and li` through switches 62 Iind which are nin-mall'v closed and which are connected at 6l with the ncpjaiirc main lino lead B.' 35 is :i leail trom main lo thc contacts et) S6, 67 and S6 all ol' which op crate in the same manner. (lonlacis` Si? and 66 may be placed at any convenient point ior ar Hatingl the niolor and points HT and S8 may be placed :it some other point. cvcn at a remote point it desired so that actuation ot contacts SO and SS will cause thc doors io open and 66 or cli" to close.

Si) is .i limit switch similar to S1 adapted to be actuated by the doors when movcd into closed position, To prevent cithcr switch (l or D 'from being` closed whilo onc is in closed position7 l employ a hell crank il() so pivotcd as to be moved by the arms ol' thc switchcs D and'll when either sct ol arms is niovcd into closed or coniactinpr position. 'lhis will cause the other end ol the hcll crank .ll) to move oi'itwardly and it the switch which is opened is attempted to be closcd thc hcll crank 'will throw out thc ,switch which is closed thus preventingr any burningcr out ol the motor or damage io thc lraio olI mochanisin.

For moving: the doors io open position when they are closed :i momentum' contact is made by the switch El() which closes the oirci'iit indicated by ilrx lclicr ff. that is the current enters through thc main :und iicals the course throu; "i lhc contact Si). limit s itch Sl encrgims hc solcuoi'l l` which causes-1 swilch to closc making conlacl hclwcon points lll and fili and comicclion :it lil with thc motor (i. Whoo lhc conlacl Htl is brolrcu solenoid li" is cncroi'fcd h v means oly the shuil'. 'which l'ollov-:`l (hc voorw iodicalcfl lrnv the lcllcr 1' that is. comcs l'iom lhe main ihrouifih l'hc points 9;. and .l and then hrough limil sw'z'ch Si around thc l" bacia; through stop swilchcf: H2 and oo to the negativo load B :ilV Fl. ll will be seen that this shunt circuit will energize the ltznl lT :so long as switches S1, 82 and 83 lll) doors encounter obstacles and also to providemeans for closing the doors after the obstacle has been removed and after the electric motor has been stopped. Also, there has been no damage done to the operating train. The absence of damage to the operatingtrain is dueto the interposition of the checks 33, 34 as the power application from the shaft 25 has been transmitted to the checks where the power has been absorbed and has not been transmitted directly to the doors as is the case in the present method of operation.

The compression of the springs causes power to be stored therein so that when the obstacle against the doors is removed, the doors willl be closed by operation of the spring compressed plunger against the arcuate faces 67h of the cam 67 as hereinabove described.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown and described as I am aware that modifications of such devices are possible and that such modifications I consider as coming within the scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire covered by Letters Patent is:

l.. In a device for operating folding doors, the combination with a doorway, of hinged 'folding doors mounted therein, a track acrossithe top of said doorway, hangers on said doors cooperating with said track, an electric motor for openingl and closing said doors, and other means operated by said motor for locking said doors when in closed position. n

2. In a device for operating folding doors, the combination with a doorway of hinged folding doors mounted therein, a track across the top of said doorway, hangers' on said doors cooperating` with said track, means including an electric motor for opening and closing said doors, and positively actuated separate means operated by said closing means for locking said doors iii closed position.

3. In mechanism for operating folding doors, the combination with a doorway, of hinged 'folding doors mounted therein, tracks mounted along the top of said doorway, hangers on said doors for engaging said tracks, means for operating said doors. means c u peiuting` with said operating means for locking :laid doors in closed position, and mean: `included in said operatingl means to more the doors into tightly closed position.

In :i mechanism for operating folding doors, the combination with a doorway, of hinged folding doors mounted therein, tracks mounted along the top of said doorway, hangers on said doors for engaging said tracks, means including an elec/tric motor for operating said doors, means for moving the doors into tightly closed position, means cooperating with said operating means for locking said doors when in tightly closed position, and means operable by the doors for automatically stopping said operating means after a predetermined operation thereof.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a doorway', of hinged folding doors mounted therein, tracks mounted on the lintel of said doorway and maintained at an an le thereto, brackets for supporting said trac hangers on the doors adapted for engagement with said tracks, and power actuated means for opening and closing and locking the doors in closed position, the locking means including a mem ber separately actuated by said motor.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a doorway, of hinged folding doors mounted therein, tracks mounted on the lintel of said doorway and maintained at an angle thereto, brackets for supporting said tracks, hangers on the doors adapted for engagement with said track, and power actuated means for openingl and closing the doors including means for moving the doors into tightly closed position.

7. In a mechanism of the class described. the combination with a doorway of hinged folding doors mounted therein, tracks mounted on the lintel of said doorway and preferably maintained at an angle thereto, brackets for supportin said track, hangers on the doors adapted for engagement with said tracks, means for moving the doors into opened or closed position, including supplemental means for moving the doors into tightly closed position and means for locking the doors in closed position.

8. ln a mechanism for opening and closing folding doors including a doorway, hinged folding doors hung therein, means mounted on the lintel of said doorway for opening and closing said doors, other means ope `able by said opening and closing mechanism to lock the doors in closed position. and yielding means including a spring check interposed between the opening and closing mechanism and the doors. Y' Y 9. ln a mechanism for opening and closing folding doors comprising a doorwav. hinged folding doors hungr therein, means mounted adjacent said doorway for opening and closing said doors, means operable b v said opening and closing means to loch` the doors in closed position, yielding means including a spring check interposed in said closing` means, and arms connecting tlu` yielding means and the doors. i

10. ln a door opening and closing mechanisin. the combination of a doorwav. hinged folding doors mounted therein` 'a shaft on the lintel of said doorway, a motor el (l adapted for tlio rotation ot' said sliatt, iiidependent nieans operable by said slialft for locking the doors Wlien in closed position, a cliitcli in, said sliaitt, inaniiallj,T operable nieans tor actuatingl said clntcli, and manually opereble ineans for actiiatiiip,l said independent ineens whereby said doors inaiT be iiiziiinally operated.

il. ln an opening' and closing; nieolia nisin ttor folding doors, the conibination oi? a doorway, hinged folding doors innig; there in, a sliai'it rotatably inolinted on the liiitel of said doorway, ineans Yifor rotating; said radioit, and locking-i1 nieans on said lintel operable by said slialit tor loosing tlie doors in closed position.

l2. ln a door openingl and closing` nieolianisin, the combination oit a doorway., oit iiinrged folding; doors nioiinted tlierein, a slia'iit rotatably iiioiinted on. tlie lintel of said doorway, ineans for rotatiiigg; said shaft, a clntcli on said sliatt i'for disconnectin9,l 'said rotating' iiieans, nieclianisin operated by said doors adapted to stop said rotating iiieaiis, lockingl bars inoiinted on tlir doorway provided with e tiiippiiiig iiieciionisiii, seid trippingineclianisin adapted to be actiioted by said shaft, l'ioolfs on said looking' bars, vf idires on tbe doors adapted iior cooperation Witli said lioolts, tracks nioiinted on tlie lintel ot tlie doorway, connections between said sl'ialits and seid doors includini;` sliocli absorbiniil ineens, said connections pivotilly connected to said doors, whereby said doors may be inoved.

13. in a device 'iior operatiiiigg` ilioldii'" doors, comprising in combination ineens ,or slidnbl),7 slipper-tino; tlii doors, power tacto: ated means ttor opening and closing; tlie doors, and nieans connecting,` said power actuated. ineans and `tlie doors 'for closing," tl'iein independently olif said poirier sctne ineens, seid ineens includin' an arin taclied to tl'ie door iiiterii'iediato ends lli. ln a device for operating` itfoldinp; doors, comprisinpin in combination nieans for slidably supportinnj the doorsa power actuated ineaiis for opening` and closing` tlie doors, said ineens including.: a spring@` clieclr, ineans connecting; said power actiiatod ineens 'witli the doors iifor clos inn' tlie doors independently oil' said openably supporting; doors, power actuated n ieaiis incliidini; sliocli absorbing, iiieans lor opening and closingl tlie doors, and ineaiis cooperating7 with the shock ebsorbing,1 ineans to inove the doors into tightly closed posi tion.

lfi'., ln a device 'for operating folding doors, tlie combination oii ineans for slidably siiijiportinnl doors, power actuated ineaiis including,` slioeli: absorbing ineaiis for oilieningi,` and closinoj tlie doors, ineans con neetingi1 the power actuating,1 means "with tlie doors i'or closing` tlie doors independently oit the operating iiioans, and ineans includino; a lever cooi'ierating; tlierewitli to inove tlie doors iiito tightly closed position.

it), lin a inecliaiiisiii :tor openingr and closin@n :folding doors, tlie combination of a doorway, hinged folding doors mounted tliereiii, tracks adjistiibly supported on they li tel of tlie doorwai7 and inaintained at an i ile tliereto lianirers on tlie doors adapted for cooieration Witli tlie treclis, a elia-tt ro tatiibl, inoiiiited on 'tlie liiitel, in ians for rotatiniir siiid sliaift, a cliitcli on said slioit ivliereby die sliait inay be disconnected ifi'oni rotation by said rotatingl ineens, gears lie ends oilitlie slia'i't, vertically disposed sl its adopted YFor eiigagieiiient n'itli tlie gears on said shaft, spring checks inoiinted on tlie vertic j baits and adapted for inoveni t tliereiv vi, bell cranlfrs pivotnlly inounted on tlie doors and liaviiiz, sliding1 pivotal connection with said ciieclis, 'friction reduc- K ineans red 'to tlie iiree ends oit said cifanlis, brackets secured 'to said lintel and provided 'with arcuate slots, with wliicli tlie tree ends ol said bell ci ilo; ere adapted to `e 'whereby to niove tlie doors into closed position, ineens opere-ble by i for locking the ooors in closed poires on said doors adapted tor co* operation witli sai-d lociiiiiir ineans, a revers infr inoans operable by said shari-t rotiitiniiv nieans, niaiinally operable nioans Afor disconiiectinn tlio sliatt rotating' iiieiins 'frein tlie sliaift, and inannallj,V7 operable ineens for acoii, ivo

tniitiiiii f-laid lori-tino; eiicaiis doors inajv' be 'troelji ini'ivedu 19. ln a iiierlianisin lfor opcninif and closivi ici -eliy tli e 7; iioldinfr di'iors, tlie combination o'l a doorway', liii d 'loldinn1 doors nioiin'ted therein, ti'iiclis adjristidiljg7 :iiipiiiorted on tbe lintcl oi? tbe i oorivav and iiieintained :it :in tliei'etn liar rs on tlio moors adapted :tor toonez'arioii n. i ilie tract@ :i sl'iaii't romid sliait, vertiiV l ,f dispos-ieri sliiiffts i iV `for e meineiit *'itli seid sliiil't eldino ineens cooiieintingi1 Witli tlie vertici l sb i und a liipted for nieve-nient therebv levers on said doors and connected with die @ad vieldinog nieoiis. brackets secured to intel of said doorn and proviifled Witb slots ivi'tli ivliicli tlie 'iree end oli said levers lili are adapted toengage whereby to move the doors into tightly closed position, means operable by said shaft for locking the doors in closed position, manually operable means for disconnecting the shaft rotating` means from the shaft, and manually operable means for actuating said locking means whereby the doors may be freely moved.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft. power means for actuating said shaft, yielding means adjacent said shaft and having operative engagement therewith, a lever movably connected to said yielding means and adapted for conn nection with a door at a point intermediate its ends. and a friction blocl; mounted for engagement by the free end of said lever whereby to oppose movement of said lever by said yielding means.

2l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, power means for actuating said shaft, yielding means mounted adjacent the shaft and having operative connection therewith, a lever having slidable connection at one end with said `yielding means and adapted to be pivoted intermediate its ends to a door, a friction plate adapted for engagement by the free end of said lever whereby movement of the door is checked.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, power means for actuating said shaft, yieldingmeans mounted adjacent the shaft and having `operative connection therewith, and an arm connecting said yielding means and door, said arm having pivotal engagement with the door. and sliding engagement with the yielding means whereby motion imparted to said yieldingmeans lby said shaft is imparted gradually to said door thereby moving same, whereby continued operation of said shaft is unaffected when said door is obstructed.

2S. In a locking device for folding doors, the combination of a shaft, power means for actuating said shaft, a cam on said shaft, a reciprocable bar mounted in substantially parallel relation to said shaft, a tripping mechanism connected to said bar and opera ble by said cam to reciprocate said bar when said shaft is rotated, and means on said door adapted for engagement b v said reciprocable bar.

24. In a device for locking folding doors, the combination of a shaft, power means for actuating said shaft, a cam on said shaft, bars mounted in substantially parallel relation to said shaft and adapted for rec-iprocation, a rocker having operative engagement with said cam and secured to said l bars whereby the bars are reciproeated when said shaft is rotated, and means on said doors for cooperation with said bars when the latter are actuated.

In a device of the class described, the combination of folding doors. power actuating means therefore, means operable by said power means for locking the doorsl in closed position, and manually operable means for disconnecting said locking means from said power means whereby the doors may be manually opened, and means on said doors for cooperation with said bars when the latter are actuated.

26. In a device of the class described, the. combination of a shaft, power means for actuating said shaft, a cam on said shaft, bars mounted in substantially parallel relation to said shaft and adapted for reciprocation in opposite directions, a rocker haw ing operative engagement with said cani and secured to said bars whereby the bars are reciprocated when said shaft is rotated. and means on said doors for cooperation with said bars when the latter are actuated.

2T. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with slidinor doors` of power means adapted for moving the doors into fully closed or opened position, and a inem* ber including a reciprocating plunger and a spring connecting said power means and said doors adapted for the conservation and dissipation of energy created by said power means when actuated whereby said doors are moved from a partially opened or closed position to fully opened or closed position whenever said power means are stopped before said doors are completely opened or closed thereby.

28. In a door operating mechanism, the combination with sliding doors, of power means adapted for moving the doors into fully closed or opened position, a member including a reciprocating plunger and a spring connecting said power means and said doors adapted for the conservation and dissipation of energy created by said power means when actuated whereby said doors are moved from a. partially opened or closed position to fully opened or closed position whenever said power means arel stopped before said doors are completely opened or closed thereby and means for cooperating with said member for moving the doors into 'tightly closed position.

Signed at Danville` State of Illinois, this iili da)Y of May, I). 1917.

HARRY A. ADAMS. lVitnesses ROY B. OLDER, H. C. SMITH. 

